Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh — In a major victory for urban resilience, Gorakhpur has successfully transformed its approach to monsoon flooding, dramatically cutting flood response times from 10-12 hours to under two. A new Urban Flood Management System (UFMS), a collaboration between the Gorakhpur Municipal Corporation and tech firm Canarys Automations, is at the heart of this change, serving as a potential blueprint for other flood-prone Indian cities.
For years, residents like Ratna Devi from Ashoknagar faced the same “dreadful story” of monsoon waters flooding their homes, causing widespread destruction and disruption. Gorakhpur’s saucer-shaped geography and outdated drainage systems made it particularly vulnerable to waterlogging, a problem exacerbated by rapid urbanization.
A System of Prediction, Preparation, and Protection
Launched in early 2023, the UFMS combines technology, process, and community engagement to create a fully coordinated flood response.
An Early Warning System (EWS) uses an AI-based forecasting model to predict rainfall and identify potential waterlogging hotspots up to 24 hours in advance. This data allows city officials to get ahead of the problem.
Based on these predictions, municipal teams conduct pre-rain drain clean-ups, schedule pump maintenance, and pre-position mobile pumps. This proactive approach ensures resources are in place before the deluge, as opposed to scrambling after it begins.
During a rain event, a Decision Support System (DSS) provides real-time data on water levels and pump activity. Communication between the control room and field teams is constant, with 21 of the city’s 25 pumping stations automated with SCADA technology for remote operation.
Technology and Community Hand-in-Hand
A key element of the system is the citizen-facing ‘Varuna’ app and a dedicated grievance portal. These tools empower residents to become “frontline observers and responders,” allowing them to report issues instantly.
“Now, if I see blocked drains or rising water, I report it immediately, and municipal teams respond quickly,” said Ratna Devi.
The system’s impact has been remarkable, with officials reporting a 65% improvement in overall system efficiency. Pre-monsoon drain cleaning covered over 95% of targeted areas, and over 70% of citizen complaints were resolved within hours.